Hobbies And Interests
Appearance
Firebrats have a physical appearance very closely resembling a silverfish and differing, mainly, only in color. They are mottled gray all over (silverfish are a shimmering silver) and grow to be between ¼ and ½-inch long. Their flat, wingless body, covered in segmented scales, is wide towards the head and tapers off at the other end. Two long, slender antennae extend from their heads and three similar extensions are found at the opposite end.
Domestic Habitat
Firebrats thrive in hot, dry areas. Their ideal habitat has a temperature of between 98 and 102 degrees, with a relative humidity as low as 30 percent. In the home, firebrats are typically found near ovens, fireplaces, heating units, hot water pipes, furnaces and attics. Sometimes, they are found in bathtubs and sinks, seeking warmth from the pipes and faucets there. Outside of the home, they are located under rocks, bark and leaves as well as in the nests of other animals.
Life Cycle
Firebrat eggs are about 1/25-inch long and are laid in clutches averaging 50 eggs. They hatch in about 14 days, revealing small nymphs without scales. Over the course of a firebrats life, which lasts about two years, an individual insect will continuously molt, going through 45 to 60 stages of development. Firebrats take as long as 300 days to grow into full adulthood.
Feeding
Firebrats eat a variety of food, preferring those that are high in protein, sugar or starch. Flour and cereal are common food items, as are fabrics like cotton, linen and silk. Paste and glue are also consumed, which makes firebrats attracted to book bindings, as well. They have weak mandibles, which means that while they eat they do not bite as much as scrape at the surface of whatever they are feeding on.